V. C. Andrews - If There Be Thorns

Pros: Fast paced, dramatic psychological thriller told by the next generation.
Cons: Bit of a disconnect to the previous books, focus changes.

There can be little doubt that V. C. Andrews’ Dollanganger series, Flowers In The Attic, Petals On The Wind, and this third in the series If There Be Thorns represent three of the most disturbing but brilliantly written books in recent ...

Pros: Somewhat interesting.
Cons: Too graphic, poor narration, didn't like the character of Bart and his disturbing tendencies.

And much of madness, and more of Sin, and Horror the soul of the plot." (a quote from "The Conqueror Worm" by Edgar Allan Poe.) Chris and Cathy are now married with three children and a life filled with promise. It appears that they have finally ...

Pros: Excellent Writing
Cons: None

Cathy and Chris are living as husband and wife and are raising Cathy's two boy's.Jory,who is fourteen years old and Bart,who is nine years old.
They live twenty miles north of San Francisco in a town called Fairfax.

Jory has taken after...

Pros: Two viewpoints (well, three); lots of action; excellent summer reading
Cons: Might get too intense for some

Meet Dr. and Mrs. Christopher Sheffield of Fairfax, California. They are a gorgeous golden-haired couple who look a bit younger than their late-30's/Big-4-0 ages. Dr. Chris is Catherine (aka ballerina Catherine Dahl)'s third husband and an excellent dad ...

Pros: It picks up where Petals On The Wind left off...
Cons: NONE

V.C. Andrews is back with the third book in the Flowers In The Attic Series. This one is titled If There Be Thorns. This time we see Cathy and Chris living as man and wife raising Cathy's sons.

What Cathy and Chris don't realize is that...

Pros: I enjoy the contrast between the two boys' views, especially the peek into Bart's warped mind.
Cons: As with all books in the series, lots of incest, which could offend you.

This book is by far the best in the series. It continues the Dollanganger story with Chris and Cathy, the brother and sister, marrying and it is told through the eyes of Cathy's two little boys, Bart and Jory.
All his life, Bart has been jealous...

Pros: Good story-telling
Cons: A little slow at the beginning

The first time I read this book, I had just come from reading Petals on the Wind which was quickly becoming my all-time favorite V.C. Andrews book, and this book didn't quite live up to my expectations.

If There Be Thorns is written by...

Pros: very suspenseful; I liked how each chapter was told by someone else
Cons: none

Once again, V.C. Andrews mastered another book! Not only is the title very cool, but the book is so suspenseful you about pee yourself as you near the end!

The story is told by all of the characters so you get inside everyone's head. An...

Pros: Keeps the reader's attention. Fast-Paced.
Cons: Exactly like all of Andrews' other books.

While "If There Be Thorns" is an excellent read alone, when you stand it beside Andrews' other novels, you see they are exactly the same. Incest and abuse abound. This book appeals to our morbid fascination with detestable situations, but even this...

Pros: good book, writing
Cons: kinda hard to follow

If There Be Thorns is the third novel in the Dollanger Series. This book is switched out being narrated by both Jory and Bart, Cathy's young sons. It lets the boys tell the story from their point of view. You feel what they are feeling, and how they...

Pros: Interesting and twisty!
Cons: None.

This is an interesting novel with many twists & turns along with a surprise ending.

Cathy & Christopher live as husband & wife with Cathy's two children from a previous marriage. A mysterious neighbor entrances the youngest boy...a must-read if you enjoy V.C. Andrews' novels.